Zimbabwe: UNICEF Zimbabwe is inviting proposals from individual international consultants for the provision of technical support in implementation of the DFID and USAID-FFP funded nutrition projects.

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1. Background

The Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC) assessment from June 2016 reported a deterioration in the nutritional status of children. Results showed that levels of acute malnutrition were poor to serious, with the Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate ranging from 5% to 17% in selected districts. Average national acute malnutrition levels increased from 3.3% (ZIMVAC, 2015) to 5.7% (ZIMVAC February,2016) and 4.8% (ZIMVAC, June 2016). Findings recently released from the ZimVAC RLA, conducted in July 2017 demonstrate a national Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) prevalence of 3.2%, which is much lower than the GAM rate reported at the same time in 2016, at 4.4%, (ZimVAC RLA, 2016). The reduction in GAM rates is associated to the efforts of the Government, UNICEF, the humanitarian community and the little harvests realized. However, chronic malnutrition, remains a persistent problem in the country, where 1 in every 3 children is stunted (DHS, 2015).

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has been supporting the Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) to implement nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive programs in the country, with an aim to increase quality and coverage of nutrition services with a focus on stunting through ensuring equity focused national policies, legislation and strategies adopted for scaling up high impact critical nutrition interventions, strengthening subnational capacity to implement and coordinate multi-sectoral scale up of services to protect, promote and support optimal nutrition status of boys, girls and women in all situations and ensuring that children, caregivers and communities in selected districts apply optimal nutrition and care practices, and seek preventive, promotive and curative nutrition services.

2. Purpose

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Zimbabwe Country Office requires a consultant to provide technical inputs to the project’s implementation. The main objective of the consultant’s assignment is support the transition of 10 districts recovering from emergency response interventions to stunting reduction, using the community based model for stunting reduction (MCBM). The consultant will also support the emergency response in 15 Food For Peace targeted districts by ensuring implementation of active screening, referral and management of acute malnutrition.

3. Objective (s)

· Ensure functional Ward Food and Nutrition Committees are formed in the 10 target districts.

· Support the operationalisation of Near Real Time Monitoring through the 100 Ward Nutrition Coordinators in the 10 districts.

· Improve nutritional status of children through counselling and reaching 160,000 of mothers and care givers on IYCN through the

VHWs.

· Improve Vitamin A supplementation coverage to 300,000 of the children 6-59 months.

· Ensure iron and folate supplementation to 18,330 of pregnant women for at least 90 days through monitoring.

· Support monitoring and screening of at least 145,913 of children under five for acute malnutrition.

· Support monitoring and referral for treatment of an estimated 6,164 of children with Severe Acute Malnutrition.

· Ensure that 135,000 of the children 6-24 months eligible for micro nutrients are reached with micro nutrient powders.

· Enhance nutrition sensitive programming by working in an multi-sectoral approach with child protection, WASH, HIV and the Social

Mobilisation teams.

4. Methodology & Expected Output

Under supervision of Nutrition Manager at UNICEF and in close collaboration with National Nutrition Department as well as the provincial and district health authorities and partnering NGOs, the consultant will provide technical assistance MCBM in 10 districts and IMAM emergency response in 15 FFP districts. The methodologies applied to this consultancy will include but not limited to:

Regular meeting and joint field visits with the implementing partners (MoHCC, World Vision International, Save the Children Zimbabwe and GOAL Zimbabwe)

Monitor progress of the DFID and FFP supported program implementation process for better results.

Regular meetings with National, provincial and districts authorities

On-site supportive supervision and trainings for health workers in charge of Nutrition

Community field-visits in the targeted districts

Coordinate capacity building activities for health workers on active screening and management of acute malnutrition.

Provide logistical and technical support in quantification of nutrition supplies and support the distribution planning

Coordinate nutrition emergency response activities with different partners in the Nutrition Sector

Compilation of relevant reports

5. Major Tasks, Deliverables & Timeframe

No

Major Task

Deliverable

Payment schedule

1

Write an inception report

Prepare implementation plan for the nutrition program for 10 MCBM and 15 FFP emergency districts.

Support the Wrap Up and Monitoring of the DFID EL Nino grant in 10 districts.

Write the Food For Peace (USAID) monthly activity report

Inception report

Comprehensive implementation plan agreed upon by the manager

Wrap up and monitoring report

Food For Peace Monthly activity (RUTF distribution, trends in the number of beneficiaries, Nutrition centers performance) reported timeously (by 15th of each month) submitted to the programme manager

Payment shall be on a monthly basis upon submission of a detailed monthly report on activities carried out and the outcomes.

2

Plan and support the training of 450 Health workers from the 15 districts on IMAM

– Ability to liaise with government, private stakeholders and communities

– Able to work within various teams and can contribute to the overall success of that team

– Able to demonstrate a flexible and adaptable approach to work.

– Ability to communicate fluently in English required.

Application Procedure

If interested and available, please submit your application letter, CV, Technical and an all-inclusive financial proposal detailing professional fees, 5 field travel days per month and other miscellaneous expenses

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

This position is classified as “rotational” which means the incumbent is expected to rotate to another duty station upon completion of their tour of duty,

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

How to apply:

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=510228